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Cabinet considered the report on the food deficit mitigation strategy, urban cash transfer programme and movement of grain as presented by the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, Honourable July Moyo.
The second phase of the grain distribution blitz is progressing well, with a significant increase having been recorded on the quantum of grain moved. The Grain Marketing Board (GMB) is replenishing depots allowing for improved distribution within the stipulated timeframe.
Regarding the Zunde RaMambo/Isiphala SeNkosi programme, all chiefs nationwide have been got an allocation to respond to distress calls covering the most vulnerable while they are awaiting for their monthly allocations. So far 4 195,47 tonnes of grain have been collected by the chiefs.
Pertaining to urban cash for cereal scheme, beneficiary registration is still underway across the urban domains as well as data cleaning, validation and paysheet generation for the wards whose registration process has been completed. A total of ZiG 7 million was disbursed on September 13, 2024 and distribution modalities are ongoing.
As at September 12, a cumulative total of 3 859,15 tonnes of mealie-meal/grain had been collected under the emergency school feeding programme. Cabinet noted that the programme had commenced well, with schools managing to provide hot meals for their learners.
ROADMAP FOR THE FORMULATION OF THE NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY 2: 2026-2030 (NDS 2)
Cabinet considered and approved the roadmap for the formulation of the National Development Strategy 2: 2026-2030 (NDS 2), as presented by the Minister of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion, Professor Mthuli Ncube.
The development comes at a time when the National Development Strategy 1: 2021-2025 (NDS1) is coming to an end in December 2025 with notable achievements in the areas of fiscal consolidation, monetary policy restoration, liberalisation of the foreign exchange market, structural and governance reforms, infrastructural development, engagement and re-engagement, investment promotion and support to the productive sectors were recorded under NDS 1.
NDS 2 will be the country’s second 5-year medium-term plan towards the realisation of the country’s Vision 2030. It will contain strategies and interventions which will ensure sustainable inclusive growth and development, innovation for modernisation and industrialisation, adaptation to climate change, eradicating poverty and promoting sustainable livelihoods of the vulnerable members of society.
The process of coming up with the NDS 2 blue print is set to take 18 months and is scheduled to be completed in November 2025.
The preparatory stages started with the launch of the economic census that commenced in May 2024 and will run until June 2025. The crafting of NDS 2 will start with stakeholder consultations to come up with national priorities which will be the key pillars for NDS 2 formulation and implementation.
The national priorities will be crafted by November 15, 2024 followed by the formation of NDS 2 thematic working groups, and strategies formulation from February 2025 to May 2025.
NDS 1 terminal evaluation will be carried out during the period April 2025 to June 2025 followed by NDS 2 drafting from June 2025 to October 2025. The draft NDS 2 will be presented to Cabinet for approval in November 2025 and thereafter launched for implementation.
MOP-UP VETTING EXERCISE FOR WAR COLLABORATORS AND NON-COMBATANT CADRES
Cabinet considered and approved the memorandum on the mop-up exercise for war collaborators and non-combatant cadres as presented by the Minister of Veterans of the Liberation Struggle, Senator Monicah Mavhunga.
The exercise represents the last major phase of a comprehensive verification effort to ensure all legitimate veterans are accurately recognized and appropriately honoured for their contribution to the nation’s independence.
A total of ZiG 47,2 million has already been availed to the ministry for the exercise.
The post-vetting assessment revealed that over 93 363 war collaborators and non-combatant cadres still require vetting. It was also realised that a significant number of war collaborators were excluded due to an age limit imposed by the existing legislation, despite their recognition by wartime commanders as being among the most agile and effective participants in the struggle.
War veterans who operated in specific areas will vet war collaborators and the wartime operational command structure has been reactivated. Detachment/zone commanders will be responsible for the actual vetting supervised by their sector/region commanders. for non-combatant cadres, the vetting will be in provincial capitals across the country and will be conducted by commanders of various transit camps.
Individuals not satisfied with the outcome of the vetting process can appeal in terms of Section 9 of the Veterans of the Liberation Struggle Act. In terms of Section 8 (8) of the Act, the names of the successful candidates shall be listed and published in the Government Gazette 30 days after the conclusion of the vetting exercise to allow members of the public to make representations.
PROGRESS REPORT ON THE 2ND 100-DAY CYCLE OF 2024
Cabinet received reports on progress made in the implementation of priority projects for the Second 100-Day Cycle of 2024, as presented by the Ministers of Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training; and Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture.
The Minister of Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training, Honourable Tino Machakaire, highlighted the following achievements:
The Youth Service in Zimbabwe programme was successfully relaunched by President Mnangagwa at Nhakiwa Vocational Training Centre in Mashonaland East Province on May 24 2024, and 1 082 youths were recruited for the first intake at Vumba and Dadaya Training Centres;
A Youth Empowerment Forum was held at Nhakiwa Training Centre in Mashonaland East Province, with 40 000 people in attendance;
An estimated 5 million youths were reached with drug and substance abuse information by conducting national awareness campaigns through media houses including television and radio viewership and listenership respectively, and the use of social media;
Construction of an Innovation Hub at Ruwa Vocational Training Centre in Harare Metropolitan Province is 80 percent complete. The operation of the innovations will allow youths to access and develop innovations as well as provide an interact centre;
Establishment of production vocational training units is 65 percent complete, with all 45 vocational training centres under the ministry having been capacitated to start production hubs to sustain their operations; and
Construction of Sinovo Vocational Training Centre is underway, while plans are in place to construct the Umguza dairy parlour.
The Minister of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture, Honourable Kirsty Coventry, reported that the following progress has been recorded on projects under her purview:
Resuscitation of Concession recreation park in Mashonaland Central Province is 40% complete,
Refurbishment of the National Sports Stadium in Harare Metropolitan Province is progressing well, with completion of water reticulation works being 65 percent complete; closed-circuit television (CCTV), turnstiles, and venue operations control is 50 percent complete; and bucket seats installation is 35 percent complete;
Establishment of the Victoria Falls Sculpture Park in Matabeleland North Province is 60 percent complete;
Film development strategy is 80 percent complete, with the drafting team having been constituted, and the drafting exercise has commenced; and
Drilling of a borehole and installation of palisade fencing at Kanyemba Arts and Culture Centre in Mbire, Mashonaland Central Province, is underway.
PRINCIPLES OF THE SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, INNOVATION START-UP AND KNOWLEDGE-BASED ECONOMY PROMOTION BILL
Cabined considered and adopted the principles of the Science, Technology, Innovation Start-Up and Knowledge-based Economy Promotion Bill, that was presented by the Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development.
The proposed Bill seeks to foster innovation, stimulate entrepreneurship, and propel economic growth by creating favourable conditions for start-ups. The proposed law will attract investment, generate employment opportunities, and establish Zimbabwe as a hub for innovation and technological advancement.
The Bill will provide for deliberate industrialization of Zimbabwe through promotion of science, technology, innovation and start-ups; promotion robust knowledge-based economy in Zimbabwe; and facilitation of science and technology agencies and institutions of higher and tertiary learning’s work in implementing science and technology projects for start-ups in the innovation hubs, science and technology parks and industrial parks.
The Bill will also provide for the promotion of endogenous science, technology and innovation driven industrial growth by start-ups through well designed tax incentives, rebates and preferential procurement by government.
Furthermore, the Bill will provide for deliberate land allocation by Government and local authorities for innovation hubs and industrial parks as part of master plans; and establishment of the Innovation Bank for the promotion of innovation and start-ups.
BROADCASTING SERVICES (AMENDMENT) BILL
Cabinet considered and adopted the Broadcasting Services Amendment Bill, which was presented by the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs as chairman of the Cabinet Committee on Legislation.
The major objective of the Broadcasting Services Amendment Bill is to align the Broadcasting Services Act [Chapter 12:06] with the Constitution and also with the Public Entities Corporate Governance Act. The amendment will also industrialise the sector.
The enactment of the legislation will amend several sections of the Broadcasting Services Act [Chapter 12:06]. Of special mention is the amendment of section 2A of the principal Act on the role of the Broadcasting Services of Zimbabwe which is to regulate and manage the broadcasting services bands for sustenance, rather than control of broadcasting service bands.
The Bill will also provide a new provision which will prohibit the Zimbabwe National Road Authority and every motor insurance cover to sell a motor vehicle licence and motor insurance policy respectively to individuals without the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation current radio licence or an exemption certificate from the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation, unless the vehicle to be insured is not equipped with a radio signal receiver.
The Bill mandates the national broadcaster to broadcast 75 percent in local content. Furthermore, the Bill will provide for a licencee with a sports channel to broadcast 50 percent local sports content in view of the fact that sporting events are universal and international sports may bring commercial value to licencees.
FOREIGN AFFAIRS MATTERS
Honourable Vice President Col (Rtd) KCD Mohadi presented a report on the second High-Level Indonesia-Africa Forum which he attended from 1 to 3 September, 2024 in Bali, Indonesia.
The visit offered an opportunity to further deepen bilateral relations between Indonesia and Zimbabwe as well as to foster mutually beneficial synergies. The Second Indonesia-Africa Forum (IAF II) was held under the theme, “Bandung Spirit for the Africa Agenda 2063”, which was anchored on the following seven pillars: Outlook of the Region and Prospect of Cooperation; Economic Transformation; Mining Cooperation; Energy; Health; Food Security; and Development Cooperation.
In his address to the joint session, Vice President Mohadi highlighted that there is need for African countries to develop their capacity to handle global pandemics. The Vice President also pointed out that Zimbabwe had already commenced discussions with Indonesia to strengthen cooperation in the health sector, specifically in the area of pharmaceuticals. He invited the Indonesian and African investors to Zimbabwe to invest in value addition and sustainable extraction in the mining sector as the country has rich mineral deposits.
Vice President Mohadi paid a courtesy call on President Widodo during which the Indonesian President highlighted the following issues of interest to Indonesia in its bilateral relations with Zimbabwe: Indonesia’s interest to enter into a Preferential Trade Agreement and the ratification of the Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement with Zimbabwe, in order to boost levels of trade and economic interaction between the two countries; Indonesia’s keen interest to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in Mining.
The Vice President witnessed the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Cooperation in the Field of Health between the Government of the Republic of Zimbabwe and the Republic of Indonesia, which focuses on improved secondary and tertiary health interventions; improved resilience in surveillance of pandemics; and improved leverage of technology in health delivery.
REGIONAL WORLD CHILDREN’S DAY CELEBRATIONS
The Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, Hon. JG Moyo briefed Cabinet on the forthcoming 2024 Regional World Children’s Day Celebrations which will be held in Hwange District, Matabeleland North Province from November 2024 15 to 17, with the official event being on November 16, 2024. Children will interact with their Heads of State, presenting to them an updated Call-for-Action building up from previous commitments. The event will run under the theme “Educate and Skill the African Child for Posterity”.
President Mnangagwa will officiate at the event. He will be joined by Heads of State from Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique and South Africa. The children will also have an opportunity to visit the Victoria Falls.
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